Transport yourself to the glitz and glamour of Broadway, courtesy of Auckland Libraries!

We have a great range of musicals on DVD and CD to suit every taste, from the classics of Jerome Kern and Cole Porter (Showboat, High Society), ever-popular favourites by Andrew Lloyd-Webber (Cats, Phantom of the Opera), to the wit and realism of Stephen Sondheim- perfect entertainment for the long winter evenings.

Fancy singing along? Why not browse the vocal scores, great if you can't quite remember all the words!

If you're interested in exploring musical theatre in more depth, we also have a wide range of books and e-resources.

Some I'd recommend:

In the meantime, here's a little something to put you in the mood:

I'd always known that classic American sound of The Band from growing up with Dad playing songs like The Weight, or Dylan's Basement tapes. But I really fell in love with them after watching The Last Waltz.

Levon Helm was one of the key figures in The Band, and one of its survivors. He's released a couple of beautiful country albums in the last few years, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt. Not only that but he featured as a blind old cowboy in the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. And back home in Woodstock, NY state, he regularly performs shows in his barn.

Ain't in It for My Health, on at this year's International Film Festival, is a captivating documentary on this legendary musician. Don't miss it on the big screen.

Related Resources in Auckland Libraries:

It's still the 4th of July in USA right now so we can get away with this!

Independence Day Mixtape: